Xenotransplantation - Nuffield Council on Bioethics

Animal-to-Human Transplants : the ethics of xenotransplantation
in the future, they might be released from control of the 1986 Act. Even if it is
firmly established, however, that the welfare of the transgenic pigs is not affected by
genetic modification, there may be other reasons not to release them from control of
the 1986 Act. For example, the procedures required to produce pigs free from
infectious organisms, or to remove organs and tissue may keep the pigs within
control of the 1986 Act (paragraphs 5.18 - 5.26).
5.14 A slightly different situation arises if, as more animals are bred, surplus animals are
generated. This is not unlikely with pigs, which can produce large litters at least
twice a year, and it may become more likely if xenotransplantation were to develop
into a widespread procedure. This raises the question whether such surplus animals
should be made available on the general agricultural market and, in particular,
whether they should be sold for human consumption. If the animals were released
from the control of the 1986 Act, additional controls are in place that would regulate
whether they would be made available on the general agricultural market (paragraphs
4.50 - 4.52).
5.15 If transgenic pig strains were released from control of the 1986 Act, their breeding
and care, even if it were for a scientific purpose such as the treatment of human
disease, would be regarded as recognised agricultural and animal husbandry practice
13, 20
and would not come under the control of the 1986 Act. As such, the welfare
standards would be those pertaining to agricultural and animal husbandry practice.
The Farm Animal Welfare <strong>Council</strong> advises the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and
Food (MAFF) on farm animal welfare. It has promoted the concept of the five
freedoms, which summarise an animal’s basic needs, 21 and updated the MAFF Farm
Animal Welfare Codes. 22 The Farm Animal Welfare <strong>Council</strong> has expressed concern
about transgenic farm animals and would oversee the welfare of any animals released
from the 1986 Act. 23 Other agricultural regulations cover aspects such as notifiable
diseases and transport in farm animals. Even when animals fall outside the protection
of the 1986 Act, there will always be a pressure for high health standards to be
maintained in the production of animals to be used for supplying organs. But there
will not necessarily be the same emphasis on high welfare standards to avoid undue
distress and discomfort. Inevitably, the level of monitoring and control of welfare
would be reduced if animals were released from the 1986 Act.
20
Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 : Section 2.(8).
21
The five freedoms are: freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury or
disease, freedom to express normal behaviour, freedom from fear and distress.
22
MAFF Farm Animal Welfare Codes of Recommendation for the Welfare of Livestock made under the
Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968. The Code for pigs was published in 1983 and updated by the
Farm Animal Welfare <strong>Council</strong> in 1990.
23
Report of the Animal Procedures Committee for 1990 (1991) London: HMSO Cm 1646, p 28, paragraph 7.44.
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